Cut-off mechanism for glassware forming machines



R. G. ALLEN Sept. 6, 1932.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR GLASSWARE FORMING MACHINES Filed Sept. 10. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a w a n p 1932- R. ca. ALLEN 1,875,973

CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR GLASSWARE' FORMING MACHINES Filed Sept. 10. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'i (I 5 m .1

39 16. 42 w 42. j: 56 L 4t as F 213.21 II I m Will nussatr. e. ALLEN, or

- volved in commercial type machines used at.

' the line II'-H of Fig.

' and then temporarily Patented dept. 6, 1932 warren stares tartan aarenr caricacur-can mncnamsn roa emsswm teatime mamas application filed September 10, 1930. Serial Ito. 480,872.

T'he present invention relates to improvements in cut-ofiz mechanism for glassware 4 forming machines and more particularly to that type of cut-0E adapted to be swung across the charge receiving end of a blank mold for severing mold charges in the latter closing the receiving opening of said mold.

In mechanism of the above character it 1s customary to rigidly connect a cut-ofi knife.

"- is essential that the cut-off knife move in a plane exactly parallel with that face of the mold in which the I receiving opening 1s formed. In the event such conditions do not exist, clean cut-ofis cannot be obtained with any degree of regularity, with the result that unsightly cut-off scars show up 1n the finlshed articles of glassware. The constructlon 1nthe present time does not lend itself readily to adjustment for the purpose of leveling up the cut-off knife with respect to the corresponding blank mold.

An object of the present invention is the provision of novel means whereby the cutoff knife and its holder may be angularly adjusted with respect to the operating rock shaft to thereby correct any inaccurate positioning of the knife. To this end a swivel connection or universal joint is provided between the holder and rock shaft.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing the manner in which my invention may be embodied in a standard type of cut-off mecha nism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional planview taken along Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2.,

Fig. 4 is a bottom shown in Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5- is a detail sectional elevation Show in another form of connection between the knife holder and rock shaft.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fi 7 is a sectional elevation taken sub= vstantially alon the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a etail perspective view of the adjusting or bearin block.

The invention is s own in connection with a fragment of a standard mold group such as is included in an Owens type machine, said mold group including a blank mold 10 having a cavity 10 therein and suitably sup orted on a dip ing frame 11, both the mo d and frame a apted tbbe reciprocated vertically at regular time intervals as a part of the mold charging operation. A frame 12 which may form a part ofthe usual rotating mold carriage, is arranged in proximity to the 'upper end of the dipping frame 11 and supports the charge severing or cut-off mechanism which includes a cut-0E knife 13, knife holder 14, and a rock shaft 15. The rock shaft 15 is iournaled at its upper end in a bearing 16 carried by the frame 12 and near its lower end in a bearing 17. Rocking of the shaft 15 to thereby oscillate the knife 13 is obtained by standard mechanism including a rack bar 18 running in meshwith a spur gear 19 or Arron, minors, nssrenoa 'ro owners-memoirs amass con- PANY, A conroaarron or onto plan view of the parts pinion, loosely mounted for axial movement on the shaft just above the upper bearing 16. The knife is operated in the usual manner as described in LaFrance Patent 1,185,687, dated June 6, 1916, being alternately raised and lowered at regular time intervals by a bell crank mechanism (not shown). Adjustment of the knife vertically with respect to the mold 10V to provide proper clearance becorresponding movement to the knife 13.

Leveling of the kni [e 13 so that it moves in a plane exactly parallel with the ad acent face of the blank mold 10 is obtained by changing the angular position of the knife 13 and its holder 14 with respect to the rock shaft 15. The construction allowing such adjustment of the knife and holder comprises a swivel connection 22 or universal oint between the holder 14 and the lower end of the rock shaft 15. In the illustrated form of swivel connection the inner end of the holder 14 is provided with a crown portion 23 (Fig. 3) whose upper convex surface 24 provides a seat for the cup 25 provided at the lower end of-the rock shaft 15. This cup has concave lower face 26 adapted to'frictionally engage the convex surface 24. A sleeve 27 carrying the cup 25 is keyed to the lower end of the rock shaft to prevent relative rotary movement of the sleeve and shaft. Relative move. ment between the crown portion 23 and cup except during adjustment of the knife is prevented by a locking bolt 28 or screw, which carries a washer 29 having a convex upper side, firmly seated upon the lower side of the crown 23. This locking bolt or screw 28 extends through a vertical opening 30 in the crown 23 and at its upper end is threaded into an opening 31 extending axially into the rock shaft 15.

In adjusting a cut-off knife in which the mechanism is constructed as described in the foregoing, the rock shaft 15, holder 14, and cut-ofl knife 13 are raised by rotating the collar and hand wheel 20 and 21 respectively, un-

til the upper surface of the knife 13 is at the same or about the same height as the lower surface 10 of the blank mold 10. At this point the locking bolt or screw 28 is loosened to permit any independent angular movement of the knife and holder that may be necessary to level the knife and efiect proper engagement between all surfaces of the knife and said lower end of the blank mold 10.

When such position of the knife and holder er with respect to the rock shaft may be obtained through a construction differing structurally to some extent from that shown in- Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. In this second form the cut-off knife 13 isremovably secured to the holder 14 by a locking screw 28*. Relatively off-set openings 29 in the foot portion of the holder 14 and knife 13 allow the use and fits over the lower end of the rock shaft,

said washer having its outer upper corner cut away and curved transversely of its length toprovide a bearing surface 33 contacting with an upwardly tapering bearing surface 34 on a rib35 which forms part of the sleeve 30. By providing. the loose fit of the sleeve- 30 over the lower end of the shaft 15 and the curved bearing surface 33 on the washer 32,

the knife holder and knife may be rocked about the point A to change their angular position relative to the rock shaft.

The angular position of the knife and holder with respect to the rock shaft is determined by the setting of the set screws 36 which are threaded through openings in the sleeve 30 and have their inner ends projecting into and contacting with the bottoms of recesses 37 provided in the reduced lower end of the rock shaft. These set screws are arranged in pairs, aligned with each other, the axis of onepair being disposed in a horizontal plane extending parallel with, the length of the knife 13 and knife holder 14,

while the axis of other pair. is arranged inv the same plane with the axis of the other screws and at right angles thereto. Thus, by turning the set screws of either pair in opposite directions, the angular position of the knife and holder with respect to the rock shaft may be varied.

An adjusting or bearing block 38 is arranged between the upper end of the sleeve 30 and a collar 39 which is keyed to the rock shaft 15. This bearing block 38, which is in a form of a ring, is provided on its lower side with a curved bearing surface 40 contacting with a bearing surface 41 on the upper end of the sleeve 30*. These surfaces are curved about an axis extending through the point A lengthwise of the knife and holder. 1 The upper side of the adjusting or bearing block 38 is provided with a curved bearing surface 42 contacting with a similar curved bearing surface 43 on the lower end of the collar 39.

knife is.

These bearing surfaces 42 and 43 are curved about an axis extending through the point A at right an glesto the other axis. Tongues or fingers 44 (Figs. 7 and 8) arranged in pairs on the bearing block 38 are guided in channels 45 or ways formed in the contacting bearing surfaces 41 and 43 for the pur- Inadjusting the angular position of the knife and holder the locking screw 31 is loosened suiiiciently to allow rockmg of the holder by adjusting the set screws 36. The

set screws are then adjusted, one pair at a time, until the cut-off knife assumes the desired angular position with respect to the blank molds, after which the locking screw 31 is tightened'sufiiciently to secure the knife holder and rock shaft against relative movement. After this adjustment the rock shaft with the knife and holder, are lowered as described'in connection with the first form of the present invention.

' Because of the provision of a swivel connection or universal joint between the knife holder and rock shaft, it is evident that almost any necessary adjustment of the knife 'may be efi'ected with very little difficulty. Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1.' In combination, a blank'mold having a charge receiving opening in one end, a cut ofi knife adapted to sever gathered charges in the mold from a supply body, a rock shaft supporting the knife, means for operating the rock shaftto thereby actuate the knife, means providing a ball and socket joint connecting the knife and rock shaft and permitting universal adjustment of the angular position of the knife with respect to the shaft and mold, and means for securing the knife'in adjusted position.

2. Cut-ofi mechanism comprising in combination, a rock shaft, a knife holder, a knife carried by the holder, and means providing a ball and socket joint connecting the holder and rock shaft and permitting universal angular adjustment of the knife and holder about a pivot point in the axis of the rock shaft.

3. Cut-0E mechanism comprising in com bination, a rock shaft, a knife holder, a knife carried by the holder, means providing a ball and socket -joint connecting the holder and rock shaft and permitting universal angular adjustment of the knife and holder about a pivot point in the axis of the rock shaft, and means for adjusting said shaft in the direction of its length.

4. Cut-off mechanism comprising a knife, a holder therefor, a rock shaft adapted to support the knife and holder, means providing a swivel connection between the rock shaft and knife holder comprising a crown portion on the holder, a cup carried by the shaft and adapted to be seated on said crown, and clamping means for securing the cup and crown portion in any adjusted position includin g a locking bolt extending through said crown and screw threaded into said shaft.

5-. Cut-01f mechanism comprisin a knife, a holder therefor, a rock shaft 9. apted to support the knife and holder, means prov1ding a swivel connection between the rock shaft and knife holder comprising acrown portion on the holder, a cup carried by the shaft and adapted to be seated on said crown,

and clamping means for securing the cup and crown portion in anyadjusted position, said crown portion having an opening therethrough, said clamping means comprising a. locking screw extending throu h said opening and threaded into the adjacent end of the rock shaft.

6. Cut-0E mechanism comprising a rock shaft, a cut-off knife, a holder for the knife,

said holder including a sleeve loosely fitted over one end of the rock shaft and universally adjustable angularly with respect to the axis of said shaft, means for separably connecting the shaft and holder, and a series'of setv Screws carried by the sleeve and engaging portions of the rock shaft, said screws ad ustable to efi'ect said universal adjustment ofsaid sleeve and thereby change the angular position of the holder and knife relative to the shaft.

7. Cut-0E mechanism comprising a rock shaft, a cut-ofi knife, a holder for the knife, said holder including a sleeve loosely fitted over one end of the rock shaft, means separably connecting the shaft and holder, a collar fixed to the shaft above the sleeve, the adjacent ends of said sleeve and collar having bearing surfaces curved about relatively right angularly disposed axes, a bearing block arranged between said sleeve and collar and having bearing surfaces contacting with those on the adjacent ends of the collar and sleeve, and means for angularly adjusting the holder on the rock shaft, causing relative movement between the bearing block and adjacent bearing surfaces and a change in the angular position of the knife and holder with respect to the shaft.

8. Cut-0d mechanism comprising a rock shaft, a cut-ofi knife, a holder for the knife, said holder including a sleeve loosely fitted over one end of the rock shaft, means separably connecting the shaft and holder, a collar fixed to the shaft above the sleeve, the adjacent ends of said sleeve and collar having bearing surfaces curved about relatively right angularly disposed axes, a bearing block arranged between said sleeve and collarand having bearing surfaces contacting with those on the adjacent ends of the collar and sleeve, and means for angularly adjusting the holder on the rock shaft, causing relative movement between the bearing block and adjacent bearing surfaces and a change in the angular position of the knife and holder with respect to the shaft, said adjusting means vcomprising a series of set screws mounted in the sleeve and having bearin contact at their 7 inner ends with the rock sha t.

9. Cut-off mechanism comprisin a rock shaft, a cut-off knife, a holder fort e knife, said holder including a sleeve loosely fitted over one end of the rock shaft, means separably connecting the shaft and holder, a collar fixed to the shaft above the sleeve, the ad- I 'acent ends of said sleeve and collar havin l caring surfaces curved about relatively right angularly disposed axes, a bearing block arranged between said sleeve and collar and having bearing surfaces contacting with those on the adjacent ends of the collar and sleeve, means for angularly adjusting the holder on the rock shaft causin relative movement between-the bearing bloc and adjacent bearing surfaces and a change in the angular position of the knife and holder with respect to the shaft, and means for controlling the' direction of movement of the bearing block during angular adjustment of the knife and holder. 7

Signed at Alton, Illinois, this 30th day of August, 1930.

RUSSELL G. ALLEN; 

